Ramada Inn and Suites Costa Mesa/Newport Beach

Family-Friendly Hotel near Newport Beach and Theme Parks

Southern California's Newport Beach has some key links to Disneyland: the legendary theme park is located about a half hour away, for starters. You can also find Disneyland's original bandstand in a gazebo in Newport. Newport Harbor, meanwhile, served as inspiration for Peter Pan's fantastical Pirate's Cove. Just minutes from this harbor is Ramada Inn and Suites Costa Mesa/Newport Beach.

Though it's situated right off the famed Pacific Coast Highway, the Ramada is set apart from the whirlwind of nearby Los Angeles and Anaheim. Families often use the hotel as a home base to check out SoCal's beaches and theme parks; it’s also just a half-hour drive away from Knott's Berry Farm and Soak City water park.

The decor at the hotel is straightforward and simple, and guest rooms feature contemporary amenities such as wireless Internet access and pillows that sing you to sleep. In the morning, you can enjoy breakfast made to order in your room’s chic breakfast nook. After fueling up for the day, head out to explore the Santa Ana Zoo and the numerous nearby attractions.

The city of Costa Mesa is set in Orange County in Southern California, tucked away about 20 miles from downtown Anaheim and about 45 minutes southeast of Los Angeles. The New York Times called Costa Mesa "a cultural beacon," singling out its many art galleries as well as the stunning architecture of Segerstrom Concert Hall. The concert hall is decked out in hundreds of crystalline globes and a 48-foot-tall pipe organ.

For a dose of Costa Mesa's artsy shopping scene, visit the LAB—a self-proclaimed "anti-mall" that puts on outdoor concerts and exhibits by local artists and features a vintage-clothing boutique.

A short drive west is Newport Beach, where you can switch gears to take advantage of more outdoorsy activities along the coast. On the beach's Balboa Peninsula, you can body surf at The Wedge—a jetty renowned for its massive waves. If traveling with kids, it's worth popping by Balboa Fun Zone, an old-fashioned beachside amusement park.